Gar Veteran Member Posts:1676  
| 4/21/2005 10:45 PM |
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Alot of musicians do not rise to the deserved status of genius until after their death. It's a strange thing really but the point to this thread is to discover the musicians who should be lauded as a genius while they currently live.
The title of genius is sometimes thrown about lightly, so just because your favourite artist of the month has released a great album doesn't mean they will be remembered in decades to come. When I think of musicial geniuses, I think of Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, John Lennon, Beethoven. But who will be the next few musicians to join the list of greats:
Nick Cave?
Elton John?
Loudon Wainwright III?
Neil Young?
Grandmaster Flash?
Madonna?
(Note: I'm just throwing those names into the mix, feel free to debate them and offer up others)
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stroller Advanced Member Posts:576
| 4/22/2005 4:14 PM |
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An extension of this point is that some artists are heralded as geniuses once they've died despite the fact that they would only be considered to be an artist of average talent if they were still alive eg. 2-Pac. For every talented artist who's excellence is barely acknowledged until after they've died (Elliott Smith) there are countless artists of middling ability whose musical reputations are blown out of all proportion once they've passed away (Mic Christopher).
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 4/22/2005 4:37 PM |
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I know what you are saying Stroller, good point. Mic Christopher did release a brillant solo album though. But the label of genius is attached to artists way too frequently.
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Rev JulesVeteran Member Posts:1041
| 4/22/2005 5:01 PM |
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Lou Reed
Madonna
Willie Nelson
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 4/22/2005 5:15 PM |
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Madonna = Marketing genius.
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strollerAdvanced Member Posts:576
| 4/22/2005 5:20 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Gar
I know what you are saying Stroller, good point. Mic Christopher did release a brillant solo album though. But the label of genius is attached to artists way too frequently.
I have to disagree with you on that one. I think Skylarkin is only an average album. It's got some good tunes on it. But if I had to compile my top 10 albums by solo artists/singer songwriters of the last five years it wouldn't even make the short list. There are people like PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Mark Lanegan, Tom Waits, Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine, Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson, Bright Eyes, Beck, E(Eels), Evan Dando, Stephin Merritt(Magnetic Fields) and Morrissey who have been releasing solo material in that timespan which quite frankly is in a different league to anything that Mic Christopher ever accomplished. And while I don't begrudge the late singer any posthumous success I just hope that some of the afore mentioned artists will become more recognised and successful on these shores in their own lifetime. |
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 4/22/2005 5:48 PM |
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I would agree with you on alot of those artists and in my mind Tom Waits, Brian Wilson and Nick Cave are deserving of the genius stature. And I wasn't trying to say that Mic Christopher is a genius, just that 'Skylarkin' is an enjoyable album...not one of the best ever but enjoyable nonetheless.
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| 4/23/2005 3:12 PM |
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Bob Dylan is alive
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 4/23/2005 3:36 PM |
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I was waiting for somebody to spot that one. But, in my opinion, Dylan has done enough to secure your title of true genius.
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DaraghAdvanced Member Posts:666
| 4/23/2005 3:39 PM |
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Nick Drake is excellent too, and he only got famous after he died. I personally would have him down as a genius.
Other than that I think it is hard to earmark potential genius' without the one true test, namely time. Lee Mavers could possibly make it, for one brilliant album. I cant think of anyone in the last 10-15 years who would deserve the tag though.
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Eoin Basic Member Posts:174
| 4/23/2005 9:49 PM |
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people make the same point about one of my all time favs 'Gram Parsons'. My argument is that the proff is in the music and the argument should end there
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fiddlechick New Member Posts:63
| 4/24/2005 4:02 PM |
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Nick Drake and Gram Parsons are deservedly dubbed "genius" after their deaths.
One person that I won't give genius status to, is Jeff Buckley. I've got Grace and there are some great songs on it and his Hallejuah is otherworldly but I saw a BBC documentary on him and it was so nauseating that I nearly wanted to destory Grace! Brad Pitt and then his mother going through everything he siad with a fine tooth comb to muster up some nebulous claims to his genius. No thanks.
Living genius - Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Yo Yo Ma, Willie Nelson, Bono, Leonard Cohen, Martin Hayes, Gillian Welch definitely!
Possibilities - Ryan Adams and Lucinda Williams.
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UnaVeteran Member Posts:1721
| 4/24/2005 4:44 PM |
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I don't see why we can't just enjoy the music instead of categorising things with a word that means s**t all.
It's just personal obsession, rather than musical content.
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fiddlechickNew Member Posts:63
| 4/24/2005 4:58 PM |
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Agreed Una,
My criteria for genius is only that I like their music and can imagine myself in 50 years playing them on what ever new fangled invention has taken over from the iPod.
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GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 4/24/2005 5:44 PM |
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That's why I started the thread, because a friend of mine was telling me that so and so was a genius but I was very sceptical about their comments. Thought it would be interesting to see if anyone thought certain musicians were in fact geniuses......doesn't mean we can't go on enjoying the music without worrying whether or not they are worthy enough for our time.
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UnaVeteran Member Posts:1721
| 4/24/2005 6:10 PM |
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they're all genii, just on a sliding scale
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DaraghAdvanced Member Posts:666
| 4/24/2005 7:43 PM |
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well some are definitely musical geniuses in terms of technical ability, just like you can be a mathematical genius etc.
Its all down to personal taste whether you dig it or not though,
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